Sunday, 23 November 2014

Threave and Mersehead...Dumfries

22nd Nov.As we crossed the border and entered Dumfries
we struggled to see through the downpours of rain.Having listened to the weather forecast the
previous evening I kept faith that it was correct and that we would have
sunshine later in the day.Sam and I
were leading an RSPB group trip to National Trust of Scotland Threave and RSPB
Mersehead.In truth Sam who volunteers
as a ranger at Threave had done all the preparation and led the day, so I was
able to relax and enjoy my first ever visit to the reserve.Our first stop was at Gretna where we had a Sparrowhawk fly overhead.Numbers of Common Buzzard
were seen on the journey and I understand that one or two members claim a
sighting of Rough Legged Buzzard about twenty miles away from Threave.Some Pink
–footed Geese were also seen.

Threave

It was dry, but still rather dull as he arrived at Threave
(having seen our first Red Kite of
the day) where we were given a very interesting introductory talk by Karl
Munday, Senior Ranger.This area of
farmland and marshes beside the River Dee is well-known for its wildfowl. In
autumn and winter large flocks of Greylag and Pink-footed Geese, with some
White-fronted Geese and Whooper Swans, feed on the fields.We were especially keen to try and find the
White-fronted Geese having missed these when leading a trip to Loch Ken last
year.Sam took the lead and guided the
group to the appropriate areas.I guess
my role on the day was to ensure members were back onto the coach in time, as
I’m pretty good at that.As Sam said, I
was there to lend some muscle!We did
have a lot to get in on the extended day.I’m pleased to say everyone respected our timings and I’m also pleased
to say that the clouds soon dissipated, allowing sunshine to appear on what was
a very mild day.The atmosphere in this
area of Scotland
is usually wonderful and quite dramatic, especially in winter, and today was no
exception.

A hide with a view...Threave.

We were soon counting Roe Deer which were about the reserve,
and although initially the area seemed very quiet, we were also ticking off
bird species.The wooded area provided
us with the likes of tit species, Great
Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and finches including Lesser Redpoll.There were
numbers of Fieldfare around and a
few Redwing too.In the distant fields flocks of Pink-footed Geese could be seen and the
odd Raven made an appearance.I do fear that one or two members were
attempting to make every black coloured bird into a Raven!Red
Kites were seen in the distance.

Roe Deer

There were large flocks of Teal on the pond and a particular drake Pintail stood out.We were
beginning to think we were going to miss the White-fronted Geese again, and
then a skein of what we initially thought were one hundred plus
Pink-footed Geese flew over.In fact
they were the White-fronted Geese.I think everyone had the opportunity to have
a good sighting.A small skein of Greylag Geese made an appearance
too.At least three or four small flocks
of Whooper Swan put in an appearance
with an atmospheric sky as background.So I’m pleased to say our visit to Threave proved to be very
successful.As we made back towards the
coach a Kestrel hovered nearby and
everyone was taking an interest in the Osprey nest.Sam and I have offered to lead a trip to the
area again in early summer so that we can take in the Ospreys.

White-fronted Geese. Image courtesy of Samuel Hood

Whooper Swans

We stopped at the more commercial part of Threave to allow
for use of the facilities and for members to visit briefly visit the café.I tactfully spoke on the coach as Sam went
off so as to be first in the queue for our pot of tea.Indeed he need not have bothered hurrying, as
very few made for the food and drink.Now that has to be a first.I
feel quite ashamed that Sam and I really enjoyed our visit to the café.At least one member told me that he had seen
Jay, Nuthatch and Red Squirrel during the short stop.

It was soon time to leave Threave and see more red Kites
along the way.I’m hoping to be back
soon. ;-)We then headed for RSPB
Mersehead.It was an extremely pleasant
drive part of which is along the Solway coastline.We’d planned things so that we would be here
at sunset and hopefully see the Barnacle Geese flocks fly out to roost for the
night.

Mersehead

On our approach to the reserve I noted that the usual flocks
of Barnacle Geese weren’t near to
the drive up.I need not have been
concerned as we soon found the flocks of geese further along into the
reserve.It was 2.00pm now and the light
and atmosphere as excellent.I was
pleased to be staying a little later than we would normally do, if for no other
reason than the late afternoon atmosphere on what is one of my favourite
reserves.

We visited the hides first and found large numbers of Pintail (perhaps one hundred plus) and Shoveller.Other birds on the pools included Mallard, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck and Little Grebe.More Common
Buzzards were seen and also one of our birds of the day, a male Hen Harrier.It flew in harrier fashion across the
reed-beds before flying along the tree-line.We learnt later that some other members had also seen a ringtail and
Peregrine Falcon in the same area.

As the afternoon went on there was plenty of time to enjoy
the atmospheric sights and sounds of the area.The light was forever changing and small skeins of BarnacleGeese were
flying in from feeding areas to join the larger concentrations of thousands on
the reserve.

Mersehead

We walked down to the shoreline in the hope that we would be
well positioned for when the Barnacle
Geese lifted.By now the grey watery
clouds were beginning to return and what I thought was just sea spray in the
air began to turn to rainfall as we looked out across the Solway.The rain never did get particularly heavy and
it was still amazingly mild for the time of year.The rainfall was never the less enough to
send some members making for the coach.We waited a while longer with the some of the more rain tolerant, but
the geese seemed settled and never did lift while we were there.The sun set was barely seen on the horizon
over the sea as just a touch of redness disappeared completely.We eventually retraced our steps to the coach
as we listed to the calls of the Barnacle
Geese, Curlews and Rooks.

Sam in action chatting about the Barnacle Geese that never did lift. I think everyone was just pleased to see thousands of geese and this couple had their first ever sighting of Hen Harrier.

Thankfully there was no panic when we found the reserve
centre was closed so access to toilets was impossible.I had taken the right decision and visited a
tree beforehand.Others would have to
wait until we got to Gretna.Low and behold they were closed to.Brampton
seemed a long way for some!Never mind
we found some that were open.

It had been an excellent day.May I thank Karl Munday who had met us at
Threave and Sam who had put so much work into the day to ensure that it was a
success.Certainly one of the best group
trips I have been on over the years.The
group bird list was in the high seventies.Sam and I were unable to decide upon bird of the day so have Whooper Swan, Greenland
White-fronted Goose and Hen Harrier
in equal first position.

3 comments:

Yes a great day Mark with a number of new members making the trip and hopefully these fresh faces will stay around. They certainly seemed to be enthusiastic. Perhaps you should have come along after all!

About Me

''Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”-- Henry Van Dyke.
If you think the common can be as exciting as the rare then this blog may be for you, as it attempts to express my passion for birds and nature. All are part of my daily life and my home patch is all within walking distance of my home, although I often explore wider areas. I ought to be described as a naturalist rather than a birder. I believe that all who take an interest in nature will be well rewarded, but that such rewards ought not to be without reciprocation. My own contribution is made by volunteering, much of which is done in an attempt to help others share in the experience of the natural world. I attempt to reflect my interest in conservation and the fact that I believe the future of a natural world seriously in trouble relies very much relies on an openness of information to all responsible people. Responsible being the key word, and I therefore hope to keep the welfare of wildlife paramount at all times.